Spore het hoop, maar bied nie kitsoplossings

Dit is nou al amper 40 minute en daar was nog nie eens ’n aankondiging nie. Die treine is al weer laat. Dit raak nou ’n gewoonte – treine is meer laat as wat dit betyds is. Kommunikasie is ook nie een van Metrorail se sterk punte nie, want glo dit of nie – met al die treinkansellasies is daar nog meer treine as aankondigings.

Op die platform wonder ek wanneer kom die verdomde trein, want ek het klaar ’n kaartjie gekoop. Ja, dit is hoe duisende pendelaars baie keer voel en dit is iets wat duisende daagliks in die gesig staar.

Ek raak nou moeg van die gewag en ek weet nie of daar iets gaan kom of nie. Wag, laat ek iemand bel.

Die daaglikse stryd en frustrasies van pendelaars is weens wanbestuur en korrupsie, maar ook swak of eintlik geen beplanning.

Die huidige diens kan jou nie ’n trein wat betyds is verseker nie. Jy is wel verseker van ’n oorvol trein, en nadat jy gesukkel het om in te klim moet jy oor die uitklim begin worry.

Vir dié wat nie treinry nie – dit is iets soos stoei se royal rumble.

Treine op die Wellingtonlyn is met meer as 60 minute laat. Die probleem is glo ‘low overhead power’ tussen Huguenot en Soetendal. Ek is ook herinner daaraan die die spoorlyn tussen Stikland en Wellington en verder aan Transnet behoort.

Dis die ander probleem. Metrorail huur slegs die gebruik van die lyn, maar enige herstelwerk en onderhoud is die verantwoordelik van Transnet.

Net onlangs was daar ’n passasierverwante voorval by Brackenfell. Wellington treine moes via Stellenbosch ry, en dié tussen Kraaifontein en Stikland is aan hul eie genade oorgelaat. Dit was nou totdat ’n kontrole-operateur van Transnet op die toneel gekom het om enkellynwerk te begin. Dis maar net die operateur wat self elke trein van ’n sekere punt tot by die volgende neem.

Ek dink nou – ironies genoeg het ek vroeër vanjaar aan Metrorail se streekbestuur genoem dat hulle meer aandag aan die “vergete” lyn sal moet gee en selfs voorgestel dat ’n senior bestuurder die verantwoordelikheid vir kliëntediens op die lyn gegee word.

Sien, Metrorail het een areabestuurder wat verantwoordelik is vir die sewe stasies tussen Wellington en Muldersvlei. Die aankondigingstelsel en/of luidsprekers by talle van die stasies werk nie, of dié waar dit nie werk nie het nie draagbare luidsprekers nie of daar is nie ’n personeellid om sy of haar lewe te waag en aankondigings op die platform te doen nie.

Wat my dikwels grensloos irriteer is “make use of bridging transport” – net mooier bewoording vir “kry alternatiewe vervoer”.

Dit het my een oggend só op die spore gedryf dat ek Metrorail se kommunikasiebestuurder moes WhatsApp en vra kan hulle nie eerder sê “regrettably Metrorail has no buses available and commuters are advised to arrange their own transport”.

Hoe ironies dat ek dit nou juis in vervoermaand moet noem, want nie net word baie min tot geen aandag aan veral openbare vervoerdienste in landelike gebiede gegee nie, maar baie van die landelike gebiede het geen openbare vervoerdiens nie behalwe vir taxi’s wat jy dalk net tot 18:00, of as jy gelukkig is 19:00, gaan kry.

Kort voor sy aanstelling het die minister van vervoer, Joe Maswanganyi, in ’n parlementêre portefeuljekomitee sy kommer uitgespreek dat Metrorail so baie huurgeld aan Transnet betaal.

Met sy besoek vroeër die maand aan die Kaapstad-stasie saam met Prasa se groepbestuurshoof, Lindikhaya Zide, moes ek net vra wat gedoen word om beter kliëntediens en kommunikasie aan pendelaars op die Wellingtonlyn te verseker.

Metrorail probeer al geruime tyd spore wat aan Transnet behoort, oor te neem. Sake het al só gevorder dat ’n verslag op die tafels van die twee betrokke ministers lê.

Zide het in reaksie gesê Prasa en Transnet gesels oor die oordrag en ander tegniese aspekte en hoop om binnekort ’n aankondiging hieroor te doen.

’n Dag later kondig die Stad Kaapstad weer sy voorneme aan om die bestuur – eintlik die begroting – van Metrorail oor te neem. Terwyl sommige jubel en juig oor die moontlikheid, is dit belangrik om te weet huidige wetgewing, en die nasionale ontwikkelingsplan, weerspreek dit.

Die Stad Kaapstad het ook geen jurisdiksie oor die ander ses munisipale grense waardeur Metrorail ’n passasierspoorvervoerdiens lewer nie.

Ek kan egter nie help om te wonder watter soort diens my medependelaars van Malmesbury, Klapmuts, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Wellington, Hermon, Saron, Riebeeck, Ceres, Tulbagh en Worcester sal kry nie.

Hoeveel langer gaan hulle moet wag as dit ’n kontrakteur is wat treine in daardie gebiede bestuur of as daar ’n voorval is? Die stad is dalk nie die oplossing nie en hoe langer Transnet daarmee sloer, hoe langer wag ons.

Ek besef nou ek is buite Kaapstadstasie. Die foutiewe punte of seine êrens by Soutrivier of Woodstock of waar ook al is reggemaak en my trein trek amper 30 minute laat op Kaapstad-stasie in.

Hoewel daar hoop is, blyk dit geen kitsoplossings is op ’n Express-trein vir my en my mede-pendelaars op pad nie.

• Hierdie Post Scriptum opinie het aanvanklik in Paarl Post van 9 November 2017 verskyn.

Paarl is dressed for 16 Days of Activism

Paarl the third-oldest town in South Africa with its famous vineyards and glistening mountain range is not only the home of various sportsman and woman. The town where world icon, former president Nelson Mandela, gave his first steps as a free man is now setting another example.

The annual 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children which runs from November 25^th to December 10^th is aimed at creating awareness about the huge negative impact domestic violence has.

The first resident of the municipal area, adv. Gesie van Deventer, executive Mayor of Drakenstein, started the initiative to “dress” the municipal area to increase awareness and build support for victims and survivors of abuse.

Amanda Mostert, a local activist – who herself was a victim of abuse and rape – heard the mayor’s plea and together with other role-players are aiming to a create a mammoth campaign – the same year as South Africa commemorating 20 years of freedom and democracy – in partnership with business and local residents.

Residents and businesses are urged to support the campaign by:

(1) Purchasing an awareness package which contains a branded coffee mug; t-shirt and white ribbon (which you are urged to wear daily.)

(2) Participate in the various 16 Days of Activism events and activities taking place.

A 115 business in the town have geared themselves for the campaign. By gearing yourself, with the awareness package, you show your support for the 16 Days of Activism, everyday!

Campaign information is also provided to businesses that take part, to empower their staff to learn more and assist people in trauma situations.

The community is also encouraged to keep a whistle ready for the opening and closing of the project, where everybody will make sure at 12:00 on November 25^th and December 10^th, their voice against domestic violence is hear loud and clear.

Paarl, the largest of the wineland towns, with a population of more than 112 000 (according to Census 2011) can surely make the biggest noise and unite for 16 Days of Activism.

The humble golden boy of the Valley

I was privileged to attend the memorial service of Tinus Linee on Thursday 6^th November 2014

WHO WAS TINUS

Linee was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in April 2013 and sadly passed away on Monday 3 November 2014, aged 45, at his home in Paarl.

Marthinus "Tinus" Linee was a South African rugby player, who predominantly played centre. He played all his provincial rugby for Western Province and represented Western Province and the Stormers in Super Rugby. He played nine tour games for the Springboks between 1993 and 1994, but never played in a test for South Africa.

Linee attended Nederburg Primary School along with his future wife, Diana. This is the same school that delivered the likes of former Springbok Chester Williams and former Springbok coach Peter de Villiers.

TRIBUTES

Even before listening to the tributes, as you enter the hall, the attendance by the Paarl community spoke volumes of the golden boy of the valley – as one speaker described him.

Speaker after speaker spoke of a humble person, someone who believed, lived his dream and inspired others.

“Tinus proved how to realise dreams and to strive towards good things,” says adv. Gesie van Deventer, executive mayor of Drakenstein, in a letter to Linee’s widow, Diana.

Executive deputy mayor, Conrad Poole, described him as an ambassador of his own life, who never lost focus.

In his message of encouragement to the mourners, Father Grant Walters said “if you believe something, you live it and Tienie believed and lived as a Christian.”

Hon. Gert Oosthuizen, deputy minister of Sport and Recreation, in his keynote address said to an extend Tinus Linee was larger than live. “We should celebrate his success on and off the field.

Addressing the crowd dr. Nomafrench Mbombo, Western Cape Cultural Affairs and Sport MEC, said as the widow of a former rugby player herself, she recalls and can related to the pain of Diana. She appealed to the rugby community who stood by Linee, to continue supporting Diana now that Tinus is no longer there. “She will need the support now more than ever, don’t leave her behind and forget her.”

The minister apologised to the Linee family for being absent and not supporting them during the 18 months, when they needed her support the most. To his children she said they should remember he’s watching over them.

Mbombo started by saying she does not if Tinus knew what role-model he was for the youth. “He was a rock and role-model for society and our communities needs role-models.”

Breyton Paulse, program director, said in any tragic event, there’s a lesson to learn. “The lesson here is that Tinus Linee and Chester Williams have always been humble and that is the message to our youth, no matter what you achieve, to always remain humble.”

STATE FUNERAL

As the Memorial service started in Paarl, Acting Premier, Anton Bredell issued a statement saying the office of the Premier of the Western Cape takes note of a statement by the Presidency that it did not receive a request by Premier Helen Zille regarding the funeral of the late Linee. Bredell says the provincial government has decided to offer financial assistance for the funeral this coming Saturday in Paarl.

"President Jacob Zuma did not receive a letter from the government of the Western Cape requesting the granting of a provincial official funeral for former rugby player Mr Tinus Linee. The President once again extends his condolences to the family of Mr Linee," reads the statement by thepresidency.

Shortly after this the ANC Western Cape tweeted:

"the DA should stop making cheap party politics of the funeral of former Springbok and WP rugby player Tinus Linee."

"ANC demands of the premier and her cabinet to do whatever within their means to immediately come to the assistance of Linee’s family."

I attended the memorial service and mentioned the attendance alone said this was a Hero of the Valley, a role model for the youth. Reading the statements by both the presidency, office of the premier and ANC tweets I couldn't help but feel hurt and thought:

1) The debate to grant Tinus Linee a state funeral or not, is surely not who this humble smiling person was and it is definitely not how his loved ones would want to remember him. He was after all a down to heart person, a people’s person.

2) Would he have wanted all the big fuss? He’s probably the only rugby player who never left his birth place to go look for better opportunities and always remained humble.

3) Whether the premier sent the request to the president or not, surely the president took note or was advised about the outcry to declare an official funeral. If he did not take note or was not advised, I would be worried.

4) Is it not within the premiers powers to declare a provincial official funeral or should this be signed off by the president.

5) Was or is someone playing politics with the issue? If so, I think it is wrong as a community is still mourning.

6) When I heard the news of the passing of Tinus, my first thought was, he deserves a Civic funeral and now I wonder why the executive mayor did not declared one. I can recall other local heroes, who were role-models for society who received a Civic funeral.

7) Why are we playing the race card on this? 20 years into democracy this should not take place.

I strongly feel it is wrong of us as South African’s to compare the funeral of Tinus Linee to that of Senzo Meyiwa (Bafana Bafana captain who was murdered).

Meyiwa was at the time the current skipper of one of our national teams and in my humble opinion, it is only right to afford him a state funeral.

Linee, was a remarkable former rugby player, with a successful career and even though I support the proposal of a provincial funeral – I also think it is unfair to compare the two.

Whether he’s afforded an official funeral or not, that will not determine his legacy that should live on.

Or as executive deputy Mayor of Drakenstein Conrad Poole said: “may the tributes result in the creation of more Tinus Linee’s.